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Lake Ontario Companies Form Consortium to Encourage Government Movement on Offshore Wind Power

HAMILTON, ON, Nov. 14, 2011 /CNW/ - A consortium of Lake Ontario based
organizations has formed to encourage and facilitate the development of
offshore wind power in Ontario. A number of large employers in the
Hamilton, Niagara and Kingston areas have joined forces to create the
Lake Ontario Offshore Network (LOON), a group of manufacturers and
suppliers with unique qualifications and skills interested in
developing offshore wind projects in Lake Ontario.

With more than 2,900 MW of offshore wind power proposed in the Great
Lakes over the next five years, the Lake Ontario Offshore Network is
preparing for the anticipated growth in offshore wind energy and
encouraging Ontario's government to do what it can to attract these
jobs and investments to Ontario.

The group includes a number of large employers in marine services,
coatings, concrete, steel, foundations, plates, and fabrication.

"The Lake Ontario Offshore Network is being established to convey the
importance of moving forward now. Ontario cannot afford to lose these
jobs and investments to our neighbours to the south," stated Ian
Baines, President of Windstream Wolfe Island Shoals, a developer and
member of LOON who won the only offshore Feed in Tariff contract in
Ontario. "We have decided to work together to encourage the provincial
government to remove the roadblocks necessary to allow a pilot offshore
project to proceed through the study and development process so that
Ontario becomes a hub of expertise in North America," continued Mr.
Baines.

"Kingston is home to a wide range of companies that would supply
offshore wind power projects in Ontario," stated Jeff Bradfield,
President of the Anchor Concrete Products Ltd. "We encourage the
government to do what it can to make Ontario a hub for this expertise,
so that Kingston and other Lake Ontario communities can be home to the
job creation and investment that offshore will inevitably bring," he
continued.

"The companies in the Hamilton and Niagara areas are well-equipped to
meet the challenges of offshore development in Lake Ontario, and have
the skilled workforce to make it happen. Offshore wind projects will
lead to much needed investment and job creation in these communities",
stated Paulo Pessoa, VP Business Development, Projects, of McKeil
Marine Ltd.